Planning

Responsibilities

The Planning Department processes applications for both discretionary and ministerial planning permits for proposed development projects and undertakes advance planning projects such as revisions to the General Plan, preparation of specific plans, and Zoning Ordinance amendments. It also provides staff services to Larkspur's Planning Commission and to the Heritage Preservation Board and City Council on planning and environmental matters. Additionally, the Planning Department enforces the City's Zoning Ordinance.

Duties

: The main Current Planning activities are associated with advising the Planning Commission and City Council regarding applications for land use changes and development permits. These applications include fence height exceptions, lot line adjustments, slope use permits, floor area ratio exceptions, use permits, variances, subdivisions and design review. Also included in Current Planning activities is the review of building permit applications for Zoning Ordinance compliance and environmental review of discretionary development applications.

Each day the Planning Department receives a number of requests for planning information from the public. In order to provide this information, the Department maintains a public counter that is staffed 24 hours per week for walk-in inquiries and provides telephone and email response services.